Go Forth for Southwell prize
● Queen’s charge can make the most of drop in class
Forth Bridge can take advantage of a drop in class to open his account over fences in the Porto Racing Saddlery Novices’ Chase at Southwell.
T h e f o u r - ye a r - o l d , owne d by the Queen, was given a stiff task on his introduction to the bigger obstacles but acquitted himself well when four th to the smart Sceau Royal at Warwick six weeks ago.
Charlie Longsdon’s charge was a Listed winner over hurdles l ast t erm and, i f he can transfer that form to fences, he should pay his way. And being a four- year- old, Forth Bridge gets weight from his rivals.
B a r d d s h a p e d we l l o n h i s first run for six months and now looks ready to strike in the East Rudham Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at Fakenham. The Nicky Henderson- trained five- year- old was sent off the 9- 2 favourite for a competitive handicap hurdle at Ascot and finished fourth of 15 behind Brown Bear.
Suppor ters may have been disappointed he failed to collect that day, but that money can be recouped in this easierlooking heat, in which he can defy top weight and register his first success over obstacles.
Gorgeous Noora should reap handsome dividends by stepping back up to six furlongs at Lingfield. The lightly- raced filly is a nice horse, and produced an uplifting performance at Chelmsford at the beginning of the month.
Gorgeous Noora did not win, b u t s h e c o u l d n o t h ave g o t much closer.
The daughter of Raven’s Pass f l e w home i n a f ive - f url ong handicap but t he l i ne c ame too soon and she went down by a short head to You’re Cool.
Luca Cumani’s i nmate has g o n e u p 3 l b f o r t h e B e t way Sprint Handicap but she has r aced only f ive t i mes i n her career and is clearly still progressing nicely.
A f t e r h a v i n g b r o k e n h e r maiden over this trip at Wolverhampton a year ago, this ascent in distance should work its proverbial oracle.
There are goo d races to be won with Middle Kingdom, who can shrug off top weight in the Betway Handicap over a mi l e a n d a q u a r t e r. Jo h n Gosden’s colt did the business on his first t wo career star ts, which included a no- nonsense debut success on the Newcastle all- weather 12 months ago, and hardly lost much in defeat at Chelmsford on 9 November.
Middle Kingdom could not q u i t e j u s t i f y s h o r t - p r i c e d favouritism in a mile - and- aquarter handicap but he was b eaten only t hree - quar t ers o f a l e n g t h i n a b e t t e r r a c e t h a n t h i s . Tha t was h i s f i r s t start since April so he is entitled to come on a bundle with that run in safe keeping. The handicapper has also left him untouched on a mark of 94.